﻿Matthew.
Chapter 20.
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 
After agreeing with the workers on a denarius for the day—the usual day’s wage—he sent them into his vineyard. 
Going out about nine in the morning, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace. 
He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will give you whatever is right.’ 
So they went. He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same. 
About five in the afternoon he went out and found others standing there. He said to them, ‘Why have you stood here idle all day?’ 
They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ 
When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ 
Those hired about five in the afternoon came, and each received a denarius. 
When the first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 
On receiving it, they grumbled against the landowner, 
saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 
But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me on a denarius? 
Take what is yours and go. I want to give this last one the same as you. 
Am I not allowed to do what I want with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 
So the last will be first, and the first last.” 
As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them on the way, 
“Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death. 
They will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked, flogged, and crucified, and on the third day he will be raised.” 
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling before him and asking something of him. 
He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 
Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” 
He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right and at my left is not mine to give, but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 
When the ten heard this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 
But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 
It will not be so among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, 
and whoever wants to be first among you will be your slave, 
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 
As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 
Two blind men were sitting beside the road. Hearing that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 
The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 
Jesus stopped, called them, and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 
They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 
Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. 
